Shiftable bumper

ABSTRACT

A BUMPER CONSTRUCTION INCLUDING A BUMPER AND MOUNTING MEANS ADAPTED TO MOUNT THE BUMPER ON THE REAR OF A PICKUP TRUCK FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN RETRACTED AND REARWARDLY EXTENDING POSITIONS, THE MOUNTING MEANS HAVING MEANS TO RELEASABLY LOCK THE BUMPER IN ONE OF ITS POSITIONS, AND THE BUMPER HAVING A REARWARDLY EXTENSIBLE STEP AND A HITCH DEVICE REMOVABLY MOUNTED THEREON TO PERMIT UNOBSTRUCTED ACCESS TO THE STEP WHEN THE LATTER IS IN ITS EXTENDED POSITION.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Ralph E. Reiner Chestnut Ridge Road,Orchard Park, N.Y. 14127 [211 App]. No. 761,754 {22] Filed Sept. 23,1968 [45] Patented June 28, 1971 [54) SHIFTABLE BUMPER l 1 Claims, 11Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 293/73, 105/449, 280/150, 293/69, 293/99 [51] 1nt.Cl 860dl/06, B60r 19/04, 861d 23/00 [50] Field of Search 280/500, 150; 293/69,73, 99; 298/38; 5/1 19; 105/449 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 584,676 6/1897 Davis 105/449 1,330,655 2/1920 Radeleff....298/38 1,447,387 3/1923 Heil et al. 293/73X 1,463,743 7/1923 Lankston298/38 1,474,929 11/1923 Fagan 5/119 1,504,679 8/1924 Dietz 293/731,515,111 11/1924 l-leiletaL. 293/73X 1,528,688 3/1925 Oler 298/38X1,754,104 4/1930 Hoffman 293/73 3,436,096 4/1969 Rogge 280/150 3,471,07010/1969 Olson 293/69X 3,488,077 1/1970 Miller 293/73 PrimaryExaminerArthur L. La Point Assistant Examinerl'loward BeltranAttorney-Bean and Bean ABSTRACT: A bumper construction including abumper and mounting means adapted to mount the bumper on the rear of apickup truck for movement between retracted and rearwardly extendingpositions; the mounting means having means to releasably lock the bumperin one of its positions, and the bumper having a rearwardly extensiblestep and a hitch device removably mounted thereon to permit unobstructedaccess to the step when the latter is in its extended position.

PATENTED JUN28 l97| SHEET 1 BF 4 l N VENTOR. IRA L PH E RE/NER QMATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUN28I97I 3588160 SHEET 2 [1F 4 INVENTOR. RALPH E.RE/NEI? @w aam ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUN28 1971 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR.RA 1. PH E. RE/NEA? @Wb'iQm ATTORNEYS IPATENTEU M28 197i 8588.160

SHEET 8 OF 4 INVEN'I'UR. RAL PH 5. PEI/YER (8W am ATTORNEYS SHIFTABLEBUMPER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In recent years, campers of a typeadapted to be removably supported on the load carrying platform or bedof a pickup truck have come into wide use for family vacation andweekend outing purposes. Due to the cost of the camper and pickup truck,many families find it necessary to remove the camper during the week ornonvacation periods, so that the truck by itself may be used asconventional transportation or for business. In that most commerciallyavailable campers are of such a length that they project rearwardlybeyond the truck when installed thereon, it has been found necessary tomodify existing truck bumpers by extending same in order to protect therear of the camper, and provide a convenient place for mounting atrailer hitch. When the camper is removed to permit normal use of thetruck, however, the extended bumper prevents the truck from being parkedin the normal parking spaces and has resulted in accidents in situationswhere the driver of the truck forgets that the bumper is disposedsubstantially beyond the rear of the truck platform. In order toovercome this disadvantage, it has been proposed to provide pickuptrucks with extensible rear bumpers which can be moved from a normallyretracted position to an extended position whenever a camper is to betransported.

Bumpers of this type are conventionally mounted in either theirretracted or extended positions by means of bolts or other semipermanentfasteners, which require a great deal of time to operate. Further, whenthe bumper is left in one of its positions for a lengthy period of time,fasteners presently in use tend to become frozen in position due torusting thereof.

It has also become conventional to provide bumpers of the type underconsideration with steps in order to afford access to the camper andhitches in order to permit boat or other trailers to be pulled by thetruck. One particular disadvantage of presently available bumperconstructions is that hitches are permanently mounted adjacent the step,such that an accident is likely to occur when a person, while mountingor descending the bumper step, unintentionally steps on or trips overthe hitch.

SUMMARY The present invention is directed toward a bumper constructionwhich embodies advantages and novel features not present in prior rearbumper arrangements adapted for use with pickup truck carrying campers.More particularly, the present bumper construction incorporates a novellever operated locking arrangement, which permits the bumper to beeasily locked in or released from either of its retracted or extendedpositions within a matter of a few seconds, even though rusting of thelocking arrangement or parts of the bumper associated therewith shouldoccur after extending use.

Additionally, the bumper of the present invention includes a novellydesigned bumper step, which may be retracted or extended to facilitatemounting of the bumper when desired.

Further, the bumper construction of the present invention is designed soas to permit a hitch to be attached thereto, when it is desired to pulla boat or other trailer, while permitting such hitch to be easilyremoved when it is desired to place the bumper step in use.

DRAWINGS The nature and mode of operation of the bumper constructionaccording to the present invention will be more clearly understood byreference to the following description taken with accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the bumper construction of thepresent invention mounted on a conventional pickup truck and being inits retracted position;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the bumper construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bumper construction shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view showing the bumper construction in itsretracted position;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view, with a camper mounted on the vehicle,showing the bumper construction in the extended position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a modified hitch arrangement;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along line 10-10 in FIG. 9;and

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken generally along line 11-11 in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Upon referring to the drawings, it will beunderstood that the bumper construction of the present invention, whichis generally designated as 1, is adapted to replace a conventional rearbumper and bumper mounting normally provided on a motor vehicle, such asa pickup truck 2 of the type having a body frame 3 on which flat loadengaging platform 4 is mounted. Bumper construction 1 generally includesa rear bumper 5 and a mounting arrangement 6, which is adapted to mountbumper 5 on truck frame 3 for movement between a retracted position,which, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 6, is disposed at a point closelyadjacent the rear of pickup truck 2 and an extended position, wherein itmay provide protection for the rear of a camper C when the latter ismounted on truck bed 4, as indicated in FIG. 7.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, it will be seen that bumper mountingarrangement 6 generally includes a pair of guide member 7, 8, which areadapted to slidably receive a pair of parallel rail members 9 and 10suitably affixed at the rearwardly extending ends thereof to bumper 5;and a locking arrangement 12, which is adapted to releasably lock bumper5 in either of its normal positions. While other designs are susceptibleof use, guide members 7, 8 are preferably of rectangular cross-sectionalconfiguration in order to closely conform to rail members 9, 10, whichare in the form of U- shaped channel extrusions.

Preferably, mounted arrangement 6 is fabricated as a single unit byproviding a transversely extending brace 14 in the form of angle ironhaving a horizontally disposed flange portion 15 and a verticallydisposed flange portion 16. Brace 14 serves to maintain guide members 7,8 in a parallel spaced relationship, and cooperates therewith toposition locking arrangement 12 and support a pair of generally U-shapedbrackets 17, 18 having bore openings 19 provided in the base portionsthereof for receiving truck body frame mounting bolts 20. As will beapparent from viewing FIG. 5, mounting brackets 17, 18 serve to tieguide members 7, 8 to the ends of brace 14, such that the'guide membersare not only maintained in a perpendicular relationship to brace 14, butare prevented from twisting with respect to each other or with respectto truck frame 3 about a line disposed lengthwise of the brace.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention,locking arrangement 12 includes a lever 22, which is pivotally supportedbeneath horizontally disposed brace flange portion 15 by a bolt 23 andprovided with an operating handle extension 24; a pair of locking pins25, 26, which are preferably movably connected to opposite ends of lever22 by pivotally mounted, connecting link arms 27, 28 and lever positionlocking means 29in the form of a link chain 30 which is affixed at oneend to brace flange portion 15 and provided on the other end thereofwith an eye-type fastener 31 adapted to releasably receive a hook eye 32affixed to handle extension 24. Although structurally not as desirableas the arrangement shown, locking pins 25 26 may, however, be in theform of relatively flexible metal rods which are directly pivoted onlever 22.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that locking pins 25, 26 aresupported within guide member mounted bearings 33, 34, for reciprocationin alignment with pairs of apertures 35, 36 provided in the verticallyextending sidewalls 37, 39, and 40, 42 of guide members 7, 8,respectively.

It will be understood that rail members 9, 10 are each provided with atleast two apertures 43, 45 and 44, 46, which are spaced lengthwise ofthe rail members and adapted to be selectively placed in alignment withguide member apertures 35, 36, respectively, when the rail members areslid within the guide members. When the rail and guide member aperturesare so aligned, locking pins 25, 26 may be simultaneously insertedthrough all of the apertures to lock bumper 5 in either of its normalpositions, illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, by rotation of handle extension24 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2. By thenattaching chain 30 to handle extension 24, locking pins 25, 26 may bepositionly maintained in their fully inserted locked positions.

Preferably, rail members 9, 111 are each provided with apertured frontand rear L-shaped stops 47, 49 and 50, 52, which are adapted to abutagainst the ends of locking pins 25, 26, which even in their fullyretracted positions project into guide members 7, 8, and cooperatetherewith to automatically align the respective rail member apertureswith the locking pins.

Further, stops 47 and 50 function to prevent unintentional completeremoval of rail members 9, from guide member 7, 8 during use, whichotherwise might occur if by negligence locking pins 25, 26 were notinserted into their locking positions or although inserted were notpositively locked in place, due to the failure to attach chain 30 tohandle extension 24.

To insure against complete withdrawal of the ends of locking pins 25, 26from within guide members 7, 8 past the point at which they maycooperate with stops 47, 49 and 50, 52, when handle extension 24 ismoved, as viewed in FIG. 2, in a clockwise direction, in order towithdraw the locking pins from the rail member apertures, the degree ofpivotal movement of lever 22 is limited by engagement thereof with braceflange portion 16 or with a suitable abutment, not shown, provided onbrace flange portion 15. It will be understood that during initialassembly of mounting arrangement 6, rail members 9, 10 are placed inposition within guide members 7, 8 prior to the mounting oflockingarrangement 12.

Guide members 7, 8 are preferably provided with bottom wall drainapertures 53, as indicated in FIG. 2, and top wall mounted threadedadjustment screws 54. Screws 54, when tightened down on rail members 9,10, serve to prevent rattling thereof within the guide members, whichmight otherwise occur due to the tendency of the rail members to pivotabout locking pins 25, 26. Also, screws 54 permit the rail members to betemporarily locked in selected positions intermediate the normal bumperpositions, whereas otherwise, each rail member would have to be providedwith a plurality of aper-' tures intermediate those mentioned above.

In FIG. 11, a modified guide member construction is shown, wherein theforwardly and rearwardly disposed ends of each guide member are providedwith aligned top and bottom wall apertures 55. Into each aperture 55 issnap fitted a headed projection 56 provided on a bearing block 57 formedof suitable, resilient, friction reducing and corrosion resistantplastic material, such as Nylon. Bearing blocks 57 provide a lowfriction, corrosion resistant surface on which rail members 9 and 10 mayslide, tend to reduce rattling noises during use, and serve to space therail members from the bottom walls of the guide members in order topermit free drainage of condensate through drain apertures 53, 54. Also,in FIG. 11 the locking pin bearings are shown as having a Nylon orsimilar plastic sleeve insert to reduce friction and prevent weldingtogether of the parts due to rusting thereof.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, rear bumper 5 includes an upwardlyfacing, transversely extending, upper plate 60 having affixed to itsrear, front, and end edges, respectively, in

vertically downwardly extending rear plate 61, a vertically upwardlyextending front plate 62 and vertically downwardly extending end plates63, 64. The rear end portions of rail members 9, 10 are shownparticularly in FIG. 2 as being weld affixed to the lower surface ofupper plate 60 and as being braced by a transversely extending angleiron 65. As in conventional bumper constructions, rear plate 61 may becut away for the purpose of mounting a license plate receiver 66 andrear signal lights 67, and both the rear and end plates may havesuitable reflectors 68 mounted thereon.

The bumper construction of the present invention further includes arearwardly extensible step assembly 70, which is best shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 5 as including a pair of parallel L- shaped mounting flanges 71,72, which are affixed at their upper ends to the lower surface of upperplate 60; a transversely extending mounting rod 73, which is endsupported on mounting flanges 71, 72; and a step portion 74 including astep 75 and a pair of parallel flange portions 77, 78 affixed to thefore and aft extending side edges thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and5, flange portions 77 and 78 extend upwardly and forwardly of step 75and are provided with upwardly and forwardly inclined aligned slotopenings 79, 80. Slot openings 79, 81) are adapted to slideably receiverod 73 and are provided adjacent the rearwardly extending lower endsthereof with upwardly extending enlargements 81, 82. When step portion74 is in its rearwardly extended position, shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, rod73 is disposed adjacent the forward ends of slots 79, and pivotalmovement of the step portion about the axis of shaft 73 is prevented byengagement of the inclined forwardly facing lower edges of flangeportions 77, 78 with the facing supporting flange portions 83, 84 ofmounting flanges 71, 72. When step portion 74 is in its retractedposition, the generally horizontal lower edges of flange portions 77, 78are supported on supporting flange portions 83, 84 and rod 73 is snappedinto slot enlargements 81, 82 to prevent unintentional extension of thestep portion.

Again, referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5, it will be seen that bumper 5 isalso provided with a hitch assembly 90, which includes a hitch mountingin the form of a boxlike guide 92, which is weld affixed to rear plate61 and extends forwardly thereof in alignment with a rear plate aperture93; a rear hitch device 94; and hitch locking means in the form of alocking pin 95.

Hitch device 94 includes a forwardly extending boxlike shank portion 96,which is adapted to be inserted through rear plate aperture 93 and beslideably received within mounting guide 92; a rearwardly extending ballhitch 97 including a conventional safety tie rod 98; and intermediateflange stop 99. When shank portion 96 is slid into mounting guide 92,intermediate flange 99 is adapted to abut against rear plate 61 for thepurpose of automatically aligning pairs of apertures 100, 1111 providedin shank portion 96 and mounted guide 92, respectively, in order tofacilitate positioning of locking pin within such apertures. If desired,a cotter pin or other suitable fastener, not shown, may be provided toreleasably retain locking pin 95 within apertures 100, 101. Bypermitting hitch 94 to be selectively removed from bumper 5, accidentsoccasioned by former arrangements wherein a stationary hitch was mountedabout a bumper step may be prevented.

In FIGS. 8-10, a modified hitch construction is shown, wherein a hitchmounting is in the form of a unitary assembly, including a pair ofvertically extending, parallel mounting flanges 111, 112, which arejoined adjacent the lower edges thereof by a weld affixed generallyU-shaped lower flange portion 113 and a weld affixed, flat, upper flangeportion 114. Flange portions 113, 114 cooperate to define a mountingguide adapted to slideably receive hitch shank portion 96, and areprovided with vertically aligned bore openings 117, 113 adapted toreceive a locking pin 119 supported for reciprocation within bushing 120weld affixed to top flange portion 114. Locking pin 119 may bereciprocated upwardly within bushing 120 to remove it from its lowerlocking position, shown in FIG. 9, by means of an arrangement includinga manually operated crank 122, which is pivotally supported withinaligned bore openings provided in mounting flanges 111, 112 and operablyinterconnected to locking pin 119 by a generally L-shaped crank armextension 123, whose free end 124 is slideably received within a slotopening 125 defined by the upper end of pin 119 and a weld affixed,generally U- shaped inverted flange portion 126. A tension spring 127,whose ends are connected respectively to mounting flange 112 and freeend 124 of extension 123 is employed to normally bias locking pin 119downwardly into its lower or locking position, which is determined byabutting engagement of the lower ends of U-shaped flange 126 with theupper surface of bushing 120. Locking pin 119 may be positively butreleasably retained in its locking position by means of a cotter pin orlike fastener 130 carried on safety chain 131. Hitch mounting 110 may besuitably mounted on bumper 5 as by welding mounting flanges 111 and 112to bumper upper plate 60, rear plate 61 and angle iron brace 65. Thehitch device illustrated in FIGS. 8-40 differs from that previouslydiscussed in that shank portion 96 is formed from flat steel bar stockand provided with a vertically extending bore opening 133 through whichlocking pin 119 is adapted to be inserted. Also, in this embodimentintermediate flange stop 99 is admitted and safety tie rod 98 employedas a stop cooperating with lower flange portion 113 to automaticallyalign shank bore opening 133 with flange bore openings 117 and 118.Additionally, this hitch construction does not require that bumper rearplate 61 be apertured.

When it is desired to remove the hitch illustrated in FIGS. 8- -10, itis merely necessary to remove cotter pin 130 from locking pin 119 andthereafter pivot crank 122 in the direction indicated by arrow 135 inFIG. 8 in order to remove locking pin 119 from shank portion boreopening 133 and thus free the shank portion for removal from themounting guide. When it is desired to reinstall the hitch device, anoperator would again pivot crank 122 in the direction of the arrow 135,and then slide shank 96 into the mounting guide until movement thereofis arrested by engagement of safety tie rod 98 with flange 113. Uponrelease of crank 122, spring 117 functions to reciprocate locking pin119 downwardly through the previously aligned shank and flange portionbore openings and return crank 122 to its original position. Thereafter,the cotter pin 130 may be attached to the lower end of the locking pin119 to positively prevent separation of the parts during use.

in FIGS. 2 and d, bumper 5 is shown as being provided with a generallyT-shaped rod 140 on which a drain hose 1411, which is normally providedwith campers, may be conveniently stored. Rod Ml) is pivotally supportedon rear plate mounted bearing 142 for vertical swinging movement from adrain hose storage position to a drain hose removal position shown infull and phantom lines, respectively, in FIG. 4.

in order to releasably retain rod 140 in its storage position, there isprovided a clamp in the form of a spring metal or plastic strip 143,which is preferably affixed to bumper end plate 63 and provided adjacentthe free end thereof with a pair of integrally formed, laterally bent,upper and lower clamp flanges 145 and 146, respectively. When rod 140 isswung upwardly towards storage position, its free end is adapted tofirst engage lower clamp flange 146 in order to deflect strap 143 to theright, as viewed in FIG. 4. Thereafter, as rod 140 rides off of lowerclamp flange 146 and into engagement with upper flange 145, strap 143springs back to its original position in order to permit flanges 145 and146 to clamp the rod in its storage position, wherein the spring clamppositively prevents rattling thereof. When wishing to remove drain hose141, strap 143 is manually deformed sufficiently to permit lower clampflange 146 to be removed from underlying engagement with rod 140,whereupon the rod swings downwardly due to the influence of gravity.

While the bumper construction of the present invention has beenprimarily described with reference to its use on a pickup truck adaptedto carry a camper, it may however, be used in extended position for moregeneral purpose of assisting the truck bed to support elongatedarticles, such as lumber. Further, in that various modifications of thebumper construction of the present invention will likely occur to thoseskilled in the art, in view of the foregoing description, 1 wish to belimited only by the scope of the appended claims:

lclaim:

1. A bumper construction adapted to be mounted adjacent the rear of amotor vehicle having a body frame on which a load supporting platform ismounted, said bumper construction comprising: a rear bumper having apair of parallel rail members mounted thereon and extending forwardlytherefrom, and bumper mounting means, said mounting means being adaptedto be attached to said body frame and including a pair of parallel guidemembers and a locking arrangement, each guide member being ofrectangular cross section presenting a pair of spaced vertical wallportions joined by top and bottom wall portions, each rail member beingof U- shaped channel configuration presenting a vertical web disposedadjacent the outer one of said vertical wall portions and upper andlower legs projecting toward the inner vertical wall portion, said webseach having a pair of apertures spaced lengthwise thereof, said guidemembers each having a pair of aligned apertures in said vertical wallportions thereof, said rail members being supported for reciprocationone within each of said guide members selectively to position saidapertures thereof in alignment with said apertures of a guide memberassociated therewith to define retracted and rearwardly extendedpositions of said bumper, said locking arrangement including a pair oflocking means associated one with each of said guide members andactuating means for actuating said locking means, said actuating meansbeing adapted to move said pair of locking means simultaneously into aninserted position within said rail apertures when aligned with saidguide member apertures to lock said bumper in a selected one of saidpositions and adapted to withdraw said pair of inserted locking meanssimultaneously to unlock said bumper, and each locking means being ofalength to pro ject through both vertical walls of the associated guidemember when in said inserted position.

2. A bumper construction according to claim 1, wherein said lockingarrangement further includes means to releasably lock said locking meansin insertion position.

3. A bumper construction according to claim 1, wherein said actuatingmeans includes lever means pivotally supported on said mounting meansand said locking means includes a pair of locking pins one supported forreciprocating movement on each said guide members and rods movablyconnecting said locking pins to said lever means.

4. A bumper construction according to claim 3, wherein said guidemembers are provided with bearing means having nylon sleeve linersadapted to support said locking pins for reciprocating movement.

5. A bumper construction according to claim 1, wherein said guidemembers are of generally rectangular cross-sectional configurationhaving upper and lower wall portions pro vided adjacent each end thereofwith apertures, and said guide members include friction reducing insertsadapted to slidably engage said upper and lower legs of said railmembers, said inserts being snap-fitted into said guide member wallportion apertures.

6. A bumper construction according to claim 1, wherein said rail membersinclude stop means adapted to cooperate with said locking means to alignsaid rail member apertures with said guide member apertures when saidrail members are moved to position said bumper in said positions.

7. A bumper construction according to claim 1, wherein said mountingmeans additionally includes a brace member extending transversely of andbeing end affixed to said guide members, and a pair of generallyU-shaped mounting brackets disposed one adjacent each of said guidemembers, each of said brackets having a base portion and a pair of legportions extending from opposite ends thereof, said bracket baseportions being attachable to said truck body frame and said leg portionsof each said bracket being affixed respectively to said brace member andan adjacent guide member.

8. A bumper construction according to claim ll, wherein said mountingmeans additionally includes a brace member extending transversely of andbeing end affixed to said guide members, said actuating means includes alever pivotally mounted on said brace member and having a manuallyoperable handle extension therefor, said lever being pivotal by saidhandle extension in opposite directions to effect insertion andwithdrawal of said locking means, said locking means includes a pair oflocking pins associated one with each of said guide members andconnecting rods serving to movably interconnect said pins to said lever,said guide members each including bearing means adapted to slidablysupport said locking pin associated therewith for insertion andwithdrawal from said rail apertures when aligned, and said lockingarrangement further includes means carried on said brace member forreleasably locking said lever in a locking pin inserting position.

9. A bumper construction according to claim I, wherein each said guidemember is provided with at least one through drain opening disposed in abottom surface thereof intermediate the ends of said guide member, andeach said guide member is adapted to threadably receive a locking screwadjustable to extend inwardly of said guide member into engagement witha rail member received therein.

10. A bumper construction according to claim 1, wherein said bumperincludes an upper plate, rear and end plates depending respectively fromthe rear and end marginal edges of said upper plate; and a hose storagemeans, said hose storage means including bearing means extendingforwardly of said rear plate beneath said upper plate, a rod adapted toslidably receive said hose, said rod being journaled at one end thereofon said bearing means for vertical swinging movement about an axisextending fore and aft of said bumper and having a free end projectingtoward one of said bumper end plates, and spring catch means adapted toreleasably engage said free end of said rod in order to normallymaintain said leg member substantially parallel to said top plate.

11. A bumper construction adapted to be mounted adjacent the rear of amotor vehicle having a body frame on WHlCH a load supporting platform ismounted, said bumper construction comprising: a rear bumper having apair of parallel rail members mounted thereon and extending forwardlytherefrom, each of said rail members having at least a pair of aperturesspaced lengthwise thereof; and bumper mounting means, said mountingmeans being adapted to be attached to said body frame and including apair of parallel guide members and a locking arrangement, said guidemembers each having at least one aperture provided therein, said railmembers being supported for reciprocation one on each said guide membersto selectively position said apertures thereof in alignment with saidapertures of a guide member associated therewith to define retracted andrearwardly extended positions of said bumper, said locking arrangementincluding a pair of locking means associated one with each of said guidemembers and means for actuating said locking means, said actuating meansbeing adapted to simultaneously move said locking means into an insertedposition within said rail apertures when aligned with said guide memberapertures to lock said bumper in said positions and adapted tosimultaneously withdraw said inserted locking means to unlock saidbumper, said bumper including a horizontally extending upper plate and arear plate extending vertically downwardly from the rear marginal edgeof said upper plate, and said bumper additionally includes a stepassembly, said step assembly including a pair of parallel mountingflanges affixed to the under surface of said upper plate and extendingforwardly of said rear plate, said mounting flanges having facingsupporting flange surfaces disposed parallel to said upper plate; a rod,said rod being supported adjacent each end thereof on said mountingflanges and being disposed intermediate said upper plate and saidsupporting surfaces; and a step portion disposed intermediate saidmounting flanges and adapted to be moved rearwardly beneath said rearplate to an extended position from a retracted position beneath saidupper plate, said step portion having a step surface and a pair ofparallel flange portions affixed to the fore and aft extending sideedges thereof, said step flange portions extending upwardly andforwardly of said step surface and having upwardly and forwardlyinclined aligned slot openings disposed therein, said slot openingsbeing adapted to slidably receive said rod, and said step flangeportions being disposed one adjacent each of said mounting flanges andhaving upwardly and forwardly inclined lower edges in overlying slidableengagement with said supporting flange surfaces thereof, said stepflanges being of lengths to project rearwardly beyond said supportingflange surfaces to position said step surface below said supportingflange surfaces when the step assembly is in extended position, saidslot openings having an enlargement at one end retaining said stepassembly in retracted position with said step surface supported abovesaid supporting flange surfaces.

